Clinical significance of chronic bronchitis in different racial groups.

BACKGROUNDS: Limited data are available on racial differences in the clinical features of chronic bronchitis (CB) patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this study, we aimed to compare clinical features among CB patients of different races. We also analyzed the clinical significance of CB, defined classically and based on the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), to validate the CAT-based definition. METHODS: We analyzed patient data extracted from the Korean COPD Subgroup Study (KOCOSS) cohort (2012-2021) and US Genetic Epidemiology of COPD (COPDGene) study (2008-2011). We compared clinical characteristics among CB and non-CB patients of three different races using two CB definitions. RESULTS: In this study, 3,462 patients were non-Hispanic white (NHW), 1,018 were African American (AA), and 1,793 were Asian. The proportions of NHW, AA, and Asian patients with CB according to the classic definition were 27.4%, 20.9%, and 10.7%, compared with 25.2%, 30.9%, and 23.0% according to the CAT-based definition, respectively. The risk of CB prevalence was highest in NHW and lowest in Asian COPD patients. Among all races, CB patients were more likely to be current smokers, have worse respiratory symptoms and poorer health-related quality of life (HrQoL), and to have decreased lung function and exercise capacity. Most of these characteristics showed similar associations with the outcomes between the two definitions of CB. A binominal regression model revealed that CB patients of all races had an increased risk of future exacerbations according to both CB definitions, except for Asian patients with classically defined CB. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of CB was associated with worse respiratory symptoms, HrQoL, exercise capacity and lung function, and more exacerbations, regardless of race or CB definition. The CAT-based definition may be more useful for assessing the risk of future exacerbations in Asian COPD patients.

Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life Between New Mexican Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Smokers.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQL) across all populations. Because decline in lung function and risk for COPD are lower in New Mexican Hispanic smokers compared with their non-Hispanic white (NHW) counterparts, the goal of this study was to ascertain whether HRQL differs between these two racial/ethnic groups and determine the factors that contribute to this difference. METHODS: We compared the score results of the Medical Outcomes Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) in 378 Hispanic subjects and 1,597 NHW subjects enrolled in the Lovelace Smokers' Cohort (LSC) from New Mexico. The associations of race/ethnicity with SGRQ and SF-36 were assessed by using multivariable regression. RESULTS: Physical functioning (difference, -4.5; P = .0008) but not mental health or role emotional domains of the SF-36 was worse in Hispanic smokers than in their NWH counterparts in multivariable analysis. SGRQ total score and its activity and impact subscores were worse in Hispanic (vs NHW) smokers after adjustment for education level, current smoking, pack-years smoked, BMI, number of comorbidities, and FEV1 % predicted (difference range, 2.9-5.0; all comparisons, P ≤ .001). Although the difference in the SGRQ activity domain was above the clinically important difference of four units, the total score was not. CONCLUSIONS: New Mexican Hispanic smokers have clinically relevant, lower HRQL than their NHW counterparts. A perception of diminished physical functioning and impairment in daily life activities contribute to the poorer HRQL among Hispanic subjects.

Clinical and computed tomographic predictors of chronic bronchitis in COPD: a cross sectional analysis of the COPDGene study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic bronchitis (CB) has been related to poor outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). From a clinical standpoint, we have shown that subjects with CB in a group with moderate to severe airflow obstruction were younger, more likely to be current smokers, male, Caucasian, had worse health related quality of life, more dyspnea, and increased exacerbation history compared to those without CB. We sought to further refine our clinical characterization of chronic bronchitics in a larger cohort and analyze the CT correlates of CB in COPD subjects. We hypothesized that COPD patients with CB would have thicker airways and a greater history of smoking, acute bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, and occupational exposures compared to those without CB. METHODS: We divided 2703 GOLD 1-4 subjects in the Genetic Epidemiology of COPD (COPDGene®) Study into two groups based on symptoms: chronic bronchitis (CB+, n = 663, 24.5%) and no chronic bronchitis (CB-, n = 2040, 75.5%). Subjects underwent extensive clinical characterization, and quantitative CT analysis to calculate mean wall area percent (WA%) of 6 segmental airways was performed using VIDA PW2 (http://www.vidadiagnostics.com). Square roots of the wall areas of bronchi with internal perimeters 10 mm and 15 mm (Pi10 and Pi15, respectively), % emphysema, %gas trapping, were calculated using 3D Slicer (http://www.slicer.org). RESULTS: There were no differences in % emphysema (11.4 ± 12.0 vs. 12.0 ± 12.6%, p = 0.347) or % gas trapping (35.3 ± 21.2 vs. 36.3 ± 20.6%, p = 0.272) between groups. Mean segmental WA% (63.0 ± 3.2 vs. 62.0 ± 3.1%, p < 0.0001), Pi10 (3.72 ± 0.15 vs. 3.69 ± 0.14 mm, p < 0.0001), and Pi15 (5.24 ± 0.22 vs. 5.17 ± 0.20, p < 0.0001) were greater in the CB + group. Greater percentages of gastroesophageal reflux, allergic rhinitis, histories of asthma and acute bronchitis, exposures to dusts and occupational exposures, and current smokers were seen in the CB + group. In multivariate binomial logistic regression, male gender, Caucasian race, a lower FEV1%, allergic rhinitis, history of acute bronchitis, current smoking, and increased airway wall thickness increased odds for having CB. CONCLUSIONS: Histories of asthma, allergic rhinitis, acute bronchitis, current smoking, a lower FEV1%, Caucasian race, male gender, and increased airway wall thickness are associated with CB. These data provide clinical and radiologic correlations to the clinical phenotype of CB.

Chronic bronchitis in Aboriginal people--prevalence and associated factors.

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge about chronic bronchitis (CB) among Aboriginal people in Canada is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CB and its associated factors among Aboriginal people aged 15 years plus. METHODS: Logistic regression analysis was used on data from the cross-sectional 2006 Aboriginal Peoples Survey to determine risk factors associated with CB. RESULTS: CB prevalence was 6.6% among First Nations, 6.2% among Métis and 2.4% among Inuit. Prevalence was higher among females than males (7.2% versus 5.0%). Individuals with CB were more likely to be older, living at a lower income, with a lower educational attainment and residing in rural areas. Smoking status and body mass index were also significantly associated with CB, but their effect differed by sex. Obesity was particularly significantly associated with CB among females compared with males, and current smoking and non-smoking status was significantly associated with CB among females but not males. CONCLUSION: These findings identify factors associated with CB among Aboriginal people. As such, they may represent potentially preventable risk factors that can inform health promotion and disease prevention practices.

TITRE: La bronchite chronique chez les Autochtones ­ prévalence et facteurs associés. INTRODUCTION: On sait peu de choses sur la bronchite chronique (BC) chez les Autochtones au Canada. Le but de cette étude était de déterminer la prévalence de la BC et des facteurs qui lui sont associés chez les Autochtones de 15 ans et plus. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Une analyse de régression logistique a été appliquée à des données tirées de l'Enquête auprès des peuples autochtones de 2006 (enquête transversale) afin de déterminer les facteurs de risque associés à la BC. RÉSULTATS: La prévalence de la BC était de 6,6 % au sein des membres des Premières nations, de 6,2 % chez les Métis et de 2,4 % chez les Inuits. Elle était plus élevée chez les femmes que chez les hommes (7,2 % contre 5,0 %). Les individus atteints de BC étaient en général plus âgés et plus nombreux à avoir un revenu et un niveau d'instruction plus faibles et à habiter en milieu rural. Le tabagisme et l'indice de masse corporelle étaient également associés de façon significative à la BC, mais leur effet différait selon le sexe. L'obésité était associée de manière particulièrement significative à la BC chez les femmes, et le fait d'être fumeur ou de n'avoir jamais fumé était aussi associé de façon significative à la BC chez les femmes. CONCLUSION: Ces constatations permettent de déterminer les facteurs associés à la BC chez les Autochtones. Ce sont peut-être à ce titre des facteurs de risque potentiellement évitables qui peuvent éclairer les pratiques en matière de promotion de la santé et de prévention des maladies.

Prevalence of and risk factors for chronic bronchitis in a Canadian population: the Canadian Community Health Survey, 2007 to 2008.

BACKGROUND: Chronic bronchitis (CB) represents one of the respiratory disease phenotypes that affect the Canadian health care system significantly. Presently, almost 6.5% of total health care costs are related to respiratory diseases. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of self-reported CB and associated risk factors in the Canadian general population. METHODS: Data regarding individuals ≥12 years of age from the Canadian Community Health Survey, 2007 to 2008, were analyzed. CB was determined through self-reported health professional diagnosis. Information regarding covariates of importance, such as demographics, lifestyle variables and socioeconomic status, was obtained. A weighted logistic regression analysis was performed with appropriate technique for clustering effects. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported CB was 2.5%. A greater prevalence of self-reported CB associated with older age, female sex and white ethnic group was found. There were differences in the prevalence of self-reported CB among regions of Canada for household income, educational attainment and smoking status. CONCLUSION: The results suggest an association between ethnicity and the prevalence of CB. The associations between self-reported CB prevalence and household income, educational attainment and smoking status varied according to region of Canada.

The determinants of chronic bronchitis in Aboriginal children and youth.

BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge concerning chronic bronchitis (CB) in Canadian Aboriginal peoples. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence (crude and adjusted) of CB and its associated risk factors in Canadian Aboriginal children and youth six to 14 years of age. METHODS: Data from the cross-sectional Aboriginal Peoples Survey were analyzed in the present study. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors influencing the prevalence of CB among Aboriginal children and youth. The balanced repeated replication method was used to compute standard errors of regression coefficients to account for clustering inherent in the study design. The outcome of interest was based on the question: "Have you been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that you have chronic bronchitis?" Demographics, environment and population characteristics (predisposing and enabling resources) were tested for an association with CB. RESULTS: The prevalence of CB was 3.1% for boys and 2.8% for girls. Other significant risk factors of CB were age (OR 1.38 [95% CI 1.24 to 1.52] for 12 to 14 year olds versus six to eight year olds), income (OR 2.28 [95% CI 2.02 to 2.59] for income category <$25,000/year versus ≥$85,000/year), allergies (OR 1.96 [95% CI 1.78 to 2.16] for having allergies versus no allergies), asthma (OR 7.61 [ 95% CI 6.91 to 8.37] for having asthma versus no asthma) and location of residence (rural/urban and geographical location). A significant two-way interaction between sex and body mass index indicated that the relationship between the prevalence of CB and body mass index was modified by sex. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of CB was related to well-known risk factors among adults, including older age and lower annual income.

Exposures to fine particulate air pollution and respiratory outcomes in adults using two national datasets: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Relationships between chronic exposures to air pollution and respiratory health outcomes have yet to be clearly articulated for adults. Recent data from nationally representative surveys suggest increasing disparity by race/ethnicity regarding asthma-related morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the relationship between annual average ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations and respiratory outcomes for adults using modeled air pollution and health outcome data and to examine PM2.5 sensitivity across race/ethnicity. METHODS: Respondents from the 2002-2005 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were linked to annual kriged PM2.5 data from the USEPA AirData system. Logistic regression was employed to investigate increases in ambient PM2.5 concentrations and self-reported prevalence of respiratory outcomes including asthma, sinusitis and chronic bronchitis. Models included health, behavioral, demographic and resource-related covariates. Stratified analyses were conducted by race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Of nearly 110,000 adult respondents, approximately 8,000 and 4,000 reported current asthma and recent attacks, respectively. Overall, odds ratios (OR) for current asthma (0.97 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.87-1.07)) and recent attacks (0.90 (0.78-1.03)) did not suggest an association with a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5. Stratified analyses revealed significant associations for non-Hispanic blacks [OR = 1.73 (1.17-2.56) for current asthma and OR = 1.76 (1.07-2.91) for recent attacks] but not for Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. Significant associations were observed overall (1.18 (1.08-1.30)) and in non-Hispanic whites (1.31 (1.18-1.46)) for sinusitis, but not for chronic bronchitis. CONCLUSIONS: Non-Hispanic blacks may be at increased sensitivity of asthma outcomes from PM2.5 exposure. Increased chronic PM2.5 exposures in adults may contribute to population sinusitis burdens.